There is another story of the relevance and presence of a flower at the birth or manifestation of Urvashi. At the moment when Rambha, Tilottama and Menaka were dancing seductively to disturb the austerities of Nara and Narayana, it was Narayana who spoke thus to Nara, "O Brother Nara! Look how they grow in their arrogance of their beauty. They are aware that such are transient and will not be in their possession later. For that, they are celestial nymphs, they know that they would continue to be beautiful, young and always active. They should regard this as a blessing, but they show their pride to sages and they are intent on disturbing our rituals and austerities even after they have been blessed by me. They assume that they will be victorious in challenging our celibacy."
Saying thus, Narayana picked up one of the flowers that were caused to bloom by Rati, the angel of Spring, while it was winter on the Sundamadana mountain in the upper regions of Badri-Kedar in the Himalayas. He pointed to the flower and said thus to Nara, Kama and Rati, "Look at this flower. See the perfection and beauty of its colours, design, symmetry and inhale its fragrance. It is equally thus when it is on the plant and similarly when we pluck it. The plant works dedicatedly in producing this flower, and is very proud when it is adorned thus. The flower is later of no use to the plant at all, and yet the plant keeps producing flowers, equally beautiful, and never changes them."
Narayana continued, "Let me now demonstrate, similar to that plant, I shall produce a lady, manifest her in exceptional beauty, endow her with the best of skills in dance, music and song, and show these celestial nymphs that as a tree produces a beautiful flower and later has no relationship with the flower once it falls or is plucked, similarly, will I have no relationship with the lady once I manifest her from within me. Let this be a lesson to Indra, and to all the apsaras who take pride in their beauty being able to seduce sages from their celibacy."
Saying thus, Narayana placed the flower on his thigh, and slapped the spot with his hand and manifested a beautiful woman by his power and ability. Being thus born from Narayana's thigh (Uru = thigh, in Sanskrit), the lady was named Urvashi and was far more beautiful than the three apsaras, Rambha, Tilottama and Menaka. In this manner, Narayana was able to demonstrate that beauty was not a possession to be retained forever, and not a virtue to be used as a challenge against those who have no desire to wander into such relationships.
[16.12.2013]
Saying thus, Narayana picked up one of the flowers that were caused to bloom by Rati, the angel of Spring, while it was winter on the Sundamadana mountain in the upper regions of Badri-Kedar in the Himalayas. He pointed to the flower and said thus to Nara, Kama and Rati, "Look at this flower. See the perfection and beauty of its colours, design, symmetry and inhale its fragrance. It is equally thus when it is on the plant and similarly when we pluck it. The plant works dedicatedly in producing this flower, and is very proud when it is adorned thus. The flower is later of no use to the plant at all, and yet the plant keeps producing flowers, equally beautiful, and never changes them."
Narayana continued, "Let me now demonstrate, similar to that plant, I shall produce a lady, manifest her in exceptional beauty, endow her with the best of skills in dance, music and song, and show these celestial nymphs that as a tree produces a beautiful flower and later has no relationship with the flower once it falls or is plucked, similarly, will I have no relationship with the lady once I manifest her from within me. Let this be a lesson to Indra, and to all the apsaras who take pride in their beauty being able to seduce sages from their celibacy."
Saying thus, Narayana placed the flower on his thigh, and slapped the spot with his hand and manifested a beautiful woman by his power and ability. Being thus born from Narayana's thigh (Uru = thigh, in Sanskrit), the lady was named Urvashi and was far more beautiful than the three apsaras, Rambha, Tilottama and Menaka. In this manner, Narayana was able to demonstrate that beauty was not a possession to be retained forever, and not a virtue to be used as a challenge against those who have no desire to wander into such relationships.
[16.12.2013]
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